Chapter 131: Little Zhuo, Stop Her!

The little girl burst into tears right where she stood after being shouted at by Qian Yuxiang.

"Cry, cry, cry, that's all you know how to do! How did I end up giving birth to a useless thing like you?"

"Mama, look, someone is going over."

Zhu Daqiang pointed toward a group of three figures—one adult and two children—nearby. Hearing this, Qian Yuxiang stopped scolding the girl and looked in the direction her son was pointing. It was Wu Qiuhua with her two children, each carrying bowls and chopsticks, heading toward Xia Yan’s courtyard.

Qian Yuxiang turned back, saw the little girl still crying, and kicked her. "Still crying? Take the pot and go with your brother and sister to get some beef soup!"

Hearing that there was beef soup to be had, the little girl forgot the pain in her backside. She wiped her nose, and along with Zhu Daqiang and the other two, she scrambled toward Xia Yan’s house again.

"Mama, it smells so good!"

The girl at Wu Qiuhua’s right side wrinkled her nose, her heart brimming with excitement at the thought of drinking such fragrant beef soup. Even Wu Qiuhua herself couldn't help but take a few deep whiffs; it was truly intoxicating.

"Smells good, doesn't it? Your Aunt Xia’s cooking is famous around here. They say it’s even better than what they serve at the state-run restaurant."

"Is the food at the state-run restaurant good?"

The girl had never been to a state-run restaurant and had no idea what the food there tasted like.

"Of course it’s good. In a while, when your father gets his allowance, I’ll have him take us down the mountain to have a meal there."

As they spoke, the family arrived at Xia Yan’s door. The gate was open, so Wu Qiuhua called out and walked straight into the courtyard.

Xia Yan, busy in the kitchen, heard the commotion and looked back. "Oh, Sister Qiuhua, come on in."

Wu Qiuhua prompted her two children, "Quick, call her Aunt Xia."

"Aunt Xia!"

The children had seen Xia Yan at school and knew she was Lin Hongzhuo’s mother. Xia Yan had a slight impression of them, so she patted their heads. Looking at the boy who was about the same age as Lin Hongzhuo, she said, "I remember you’re in the same class as our little Zhuo, right?"

The boy, surprised that Xia Yan recognized him, nodded with a flushed face. "Yes, Teacher Xia. My name is Sun Yajun, and I’m a good friend of Lin Hongzhuo’s."

"Go on in then. Little Zhuo is up, you two can sit and eat together."

Xia Yan continued, "Sister Qiuhua, come in too. I’ve cooked some vermicelli; it’s just about ready."

Before she could turn around, however, five familiar figures appeared at the gate.

"These five little ones really are... you just can't get rid of them."

Wu Qiuhua glanced over. "Aren't those Qian Yuxiang’s kids?"

Xia Yan nodded. "None other. First thing in the morning, while I was still sleeping, they came knocking to demand beef soup. They have no manners at all."

Wu Qiuhua chuckled. "Heh, that Qian Yuxiang is quite a character. She was so stubborn on the truck yesterday, yet she turned right around and sent her kids to beg for beef soup. But then again, with her greedy nature, how could she pass up free food?"

Xia Yan wiped her hands on a rag, put on a stern face, and walked into the courtyard to block the path of the five children. It wasn't that she was stingy; if these children had been polite, she would have ladled them a bowl without a second thought. She didn't want to make things difficult for children because of Qian Yuxiang, but this was too much.

"Why are you here again?"

Zhu Daqiang looked at Sun Yajun and Lin Hongzhuo, who were already sitting there slurping soup, and swallowed hard. "We came for the beef soup."

"I told you, I don't have any."

"Then what are they drinking?" Zhu Daqiang pointed at Lin Hongzhuo.

Xia Yan replied calmly, "Beef soup."

"But you said you didn't have any!"

Xia Yan found this amusing. "What I meant was I didn't have any for you. I never said we didn't have any for ourselves."

"I don't care! If we don't get any today, nobody is going to drink it!"

Xia Yan didn't quite grasp his meaning, but she kept a smile on her face. "Hey, it’s our soup. Why wouldn't we get to drink it?"

Zhu Daqiang glanced at his younger sister, and the girl immediately understood. Before Xia Yan could react, she found herself suddenly grabbed by the four children. The younger girl bolted toward the kitchen. Xia Yan noticed the girl was clutching a handful of dirt, and she knew exactly where it was headed.

Since Wang Guilan and Wu Qiuhua were in the living room having breakfast, the kitchen was empty.

Xia Yan shouted, "Little Zhuo, stop her!"

The second girl was fast; in the blink of an eye, she reached the kitchen. Lin Hongzhuo hadn't even put down his chopsticks.

Just as everyone thought the girl would succeed, a figure lunged forward, grabbed her by the back of her clothes, and hauled her out of the kitchen. With a forceful shove, the girl landed on her bottom, grimacing in pain.

Lin Hongzhe stood there, his face cold, staring at Zhu Daqiang. "Zhu Daqiang, if you don't let go this instant, don't blame me for breaking your arm!"

"Lin Hongzhe, don't think you're so tough just because you're the boss at school. I’m telling you, I’m not afraid of you!"

Zhu Daqiang was two years older than Lin Hongzhe and had never liked school, so his family let him drop out.

Lin Hongzhe ignored him. He walked to the corner of the wall, picked up a sturdy stick, and walked toward the group. Xia Yan had seen this fierce side of him when she first arrived, and it was enough to intimidate even her, let alone these children.

"I’ll say it one more time: let go!"

Zhu Daqiang, startled by the shout, instinctively let go of Xia Yan. "If you’ve got guts, drop the stick and let’s fight one-on-one!"

"Do you think everyone is as brainless as you? Why would I fight you one-on-one when I have a weapon?"

Lin Hongzhe swung the stick a few times. "Take your brother and sister and get out of my house. If you ever come back here again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

The wooden stick whistled through the air. Zhu Daqiang retreated several steps, though he still tried to save face. "Lin Hongzhe, you just wait. Don't let me catch you outside. If you've got the guts, never leave this house!"

Xia Yan swore to herself that she wasn't the type to hit children, but seeing this brat threaten her son right in front of her, she didn't hesitate. She whipped off her shoe and smacked him with it.

Zhu Daqiang tried to block, but his arm took several hits. "You little brat! Do you really think I’m a pushover? Go back and tell your mother: if my little Zhe gets so much as a scratch on him, I’ll go straight to your father with them!"

Zhu Daqiang knew exactly who Lin Hongzhe’s father was, and he didn't dare provoke that man.

"I... I was just saying!"

Zhu Daqiang’s bravado had completely vanished. He grabbed his younger brother and sister’s hands and said, "Let’s go!"

Xia Yan felt a surge of delight. Lin You’s reputation on this mountain was truly useful; it could suppress not just adults, but even children!